Major General Olayinka Oshinowo(r), General Officer Commanding, 82 Composite Division, Nigerian Army

LEADERSHIP
9 January, 2013

Maj-Gen.Olayinka Oshinowo, the outgoing General Officer Commanding
(GOC), 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu,
on Tuesday called for more support for
the Army to ensure adequate security.

Oshinowo said during his farewell visit to the Acting Governor of the state, that he would be disengaged on Jan. 21, after 34 years of service. He described his experiences in service as worthwhile, adding that he had no
regrets being an officer in the Nigerian
Army. The GOC commended the Enugu
State Government for its support during
his stay.

“I am here to tell you that I will be
disengaging from the service of the
Nigerian Army after I have served for 34
years, six months and 10 days. “I will be
disengaging effectively Jan. 21. “It has been worthwhile serving in Enugu
because of the support and cooperation
you have given us to ensure adequate
security in the state, especially during the yuletide,” Oshinowo said.

The Acting Governor of Enugu State, Mr
Sunday Onyebuchi, assured the Army of
government’s readiness to strengthen
cooperation and relationship with it. He commended the Nigerian Army and other security agencies for their roles in
maintaining security in the state,adding that it had reduced criminal activities. “I congratulate you on a meritorious
service without hitches. Your stay
marked a period of relationship between the government and the Army in the state.

“I thank the Nigerian Army and other
security agencies for their roles toward
ensuring peace in the state as they
helped to reduce criminal activities,”
Onyebuchi said. The acting governor, however, called for a continued cordial relationship between the government and the Army.

General Oshinowo was the first 2-star General to command the STF – Op Safe Haven whose AOR is the Jos Plateau which straddles Plateau State and the adjacent parts of Bauchi State such as Tafawa Balewa, Toro etc. These places are all caught up in the same web of violence which began as an armed inter-ethnic conflict but which has since the defining Xmas 2010 Jos bombings, has become additionally ensnared in the Boko Haram Insurgency.

Until September 2011, the STF had been commanded by a Brigadier General on account of its size and by nature,it was a mixed military and security forces initiative. By September 2011 and with an upswing in both the inter-ethnic conflict and terror attacks inspired by BH, the DHQ expanded the Special Task Force’s manpower strength, drafting in two additional battalions-equivalent of troops, a mixed 500-man contingent of seamen and airmen, 1500 MOPOL and ATS cops and 100-man contingents drawn from the SSS and NSCDC. Parts of Bauchi State became included in the STF’s AOR as well.

General Oshinowo’s impact, having been appointed Commander of the STF for a 6-month stint, was immediately felt. He had been appointed at a time when the C-in-C had mandated the outgone CDS Petinrin to take direct control of security operations on the Jos Plateau.

As a measure of his effective command, barely five months into his stipulated six-month stint, General Oshinowo was elevated to higher command as the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, a division with six brigade-sized formations including four outfield brigades, division HQ Garrison and an engineers brigade(44 Div NA Engrs) with units scattered across ten states in NE Nigeria(Takum garrison), NC Nigeria(Benue), SE Nigeria and the Niger Delta, in February 2012.

That is the bit I know about the NDA Regular Course 24 officer who enlisted in June 1978.

Oga Beeg, I think it is high time u make a deliberate attempt to invite top military officers,political leaders associated wit d defence sector e.t.c. Because this is the only blog in which concerns of the defence sector are fully discussed in detail.

By bringing them here they will feel the pulse of ordinary Nigerians as it concerns security and defense. Let them know that as many nigerians are interested in the economy and politics, so are many interested in defence.

Then maybe, we will cease hearing nonsense from the NASS like the defense budget is too much.